They just don't know when to stop, do they? After Eva Hoeke's resignation on Tuesday from her post as Editor-in-Chief of Jackie magazine for calling Barbadian singer Rihanna a Jamaican "niggabitch" with a "ghetto ass," publisher Yves Gijrath has released a statement saying the magazine has nothing to apologize for, and "will not be silenced." Jezebel got their hands on this translation of Gijrath's statement via Villamedia:
[T]here is nothing wrong in the magazine. [Hoeke] presented it as a joke, but it most certainly was not a joke. It was an interpretation [of a fashion style]...She should have said: "we did not realize this interpretation is such a touchy subject. We never meant any harm and offer our sincere and upright apologies." But because of all the fuss, Eva started to wiggle in all directions, and therefore we have come to the conclusion her credibility has been undermined.
In short, they're sorry people were offended, but they're not sorry they used the word. While we find it extremely difficult to believe that the publishers were unaware of the controversial nature of the 'N' word, It seems Mr. Gijrath just doesn't get the point.

They just don't know when to stop, do they? After Eva Hoeke's resignation on Tuesday from her post as Editor-in-Chief of Jackie magazine for calling Barbadian singer Rihanna a Jamaican "niggabitch" with a "ghetto ass," publisher Yves Gijrath has released a statement saying the magazine has nothing to apologize for, and "will not be silenced." Jezebel got their hands on this translation of Gijrath's statement via Villamedia:

[T]here is nothing wrong in the magazine. [Hoeke] presented it as a joke, but it most certainly was not a joke. It was an interpretation [of a fashion style]...She should have said: "we did not realize this interpretation is such a touchy subject. We never meant any harm and offer our sincere and upright apologies." But because of all the fuss, Eva started to wiggle in all directions, and therefore we have come to the conclusion her credibility has been undermined.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

In short, they're sorry people were offended, but they're not sorry they used the word. While we find it extremely difficult to believe that the publishers were unaware of the controversial nature of the 'N' word, It seems Mr. Gijrath just doesn't get the point. The word is racist, and it was wrong of them to use it, period. They should have simply apologized, admitted wrongdoing, and kept the excuses "we didn't know," "we meant it as a joke" and "black people say it" to themselves. Instead, they continue to revisit the situation, blaming the people they offended, and then getting upset because people are calling them racist, as if the public is supposed to have the opposite impression. Girjath continues, "People are totally off limits when calling both the magazine Jackie and Eva Hoeke racist. Jackie is even produced by an editorial staff that is of mixed origins." See? They're not racist! They have black friends!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Eva Hoeke, Editor-in-Chief of Jackie magazine, has resigned today over the backlash caused by a feature in their December issue labeling pop singer Rihanna as the "ultimate n***ab*tch." Parlour magazine, who originally published the story, got hold of the press release which includes a few questionable parting words from Ms. Hoeke, whose resignation will take effect immediately:

It's December 19, 2011 and yet this happened today: A fashion magazine out of the Netherlands published a story on how to dress like Rihanna. The headline? "De Niggabitch." Really.
Here's the full excerpt from Jackie magazine, translated by Parlour magazine:
“She has street cred, she has a ghetto ass and she has a golden throat. Rihanna, the good girl gone bad, is the ultimate niggabitch and displays that gladly, and for her that means: what’s on can come off. If that means she’ll be on stage half naked, then so be it. But Dutch winters aren’t like Jamaican ones [Ed. note: Rihanna is not Jamaican], so pick a clothing style in which your daughter can resist minus ten. No to the big sunglasses and the pornheels, and yes to the tiger print, pink shizzle and everything that glitters. Now let’s hope she won’t beat anybody up at daycare.”
Wait. What?

Dear Jackie,
I’m still pissed that you called Rihanna the “Ultimate Niggabitch.”
I know, I know, why can’t I get over it? The editor, Eva Hoeke, resigned and issued two sincere "apologies.” Well, you see, the thing is, your flippant use of the word is pretty fucked up. Especially when I read that Hoeke initially tried to brush off the debacle on Twitter as being a joke, a “slang word” that is supposedly used by us in the United States.
I’m not sure where she or you got your information from, but you’ve clearly been shown through social media backlash that you were wrong: it's not a joke, it's not "slang" that we all use. Actually, I take that back. I do know where you got this idiotic idea: